Hi everyone!
I have been going to a gym for over two years now. When I started with them two years ago, I realized after a few months they were not charging me. After I read around online, I knew that I should get it canceled as soon as possible so that I don’t get a cumulative bill. So, around a year after I started the membership, I went back and demanded they cancel my account. Then something strange happened.
The manager who helped me noted that it was impossible to cancel my account. They showed me a different account, which had the cancel button active, but for mine it was not there/not clickable. This is likely because I have never been charged. He said verbally that it was a problem on their end and I should not be responsible for paying for the time they did not bill me, and he did not ask for my payment information again. He also said he was unable to switch the type of plan I was on, I believe. I think some kind of error occurred when I signed up where my account was created, but payment information wasn’t saved..
Does anyone have any advice for what I should do? The manager said I could just keep going and when I get billed, then I’m able to come back and cancel. But I’m worried about the case where they send a total bill anyways!
Gym Membership- never charged, can’t cancel
byu/ClearingMyVisions inpersonalfinance
Posted by ClearingMyVisions
12 Comments
Get the gym manager to say it is their problem in writing
enjoy the free gym. if you are really worried, then start a savings account and put the amount in there every month
>The manager who helped me noted that it was impossible to cancel my account.
Document. Document. Document.
Get all of this in writing. Ideally on company letterhead. And signed.
If not, then at least audio/video recording (with all parties consenting if applicable in your state).
Send something in writing confirming you are cancelling. Your initial contract should have an address.
I’d probably think about changing the account for method of payment – report you lost a credit card and get a new account number. Preventing them from charging you is key here – once it’s out of your account clawing it back is painful. It’s way easier to negotiate terms if you are in a more powerful position.
That said you are still liable for months you had the membership and went. I definitely would get it in writing or formally document visiting with the manager. Gym contracts are awful and designed to be difficult to get out of.
Everyone here is making a way bigger deal of this than it needs to be. Simply walk into your bank and ask them to close the card you told them to bill and get a new one. Then just sign up for a different gym.
Do you remember which credit card you use to start the membership? I would cancel it. Then they have no way to come after you ,right?
Seconding all the other comments, get this in dated notarized writing. Make sure the document prefaces that it’s a manager signing it and the notarization confirms his identity.
From a technical point of view the problem the gym manger is having is that the user interface of his account management application has a defect. There is an underlying database which has the real data in it. There is a database administrator somewhere in their corporate office who absolutely has the ability to fix the data on your account in any way you want this problem resolved. The gym manger is playing dumb and not trying at all to help you. So go over his head, go to corporate and tell them in writing you want to cancel your account and you won’t accept a technical defect in their computer interface as a reason they can’t cancel your account. Getting your bank to stop payment isn’t going to achieve what you really need done.
Easy. New card.
Probably get rid of a few subscriptions you don’t need too.
Get it in writing or recorded on your phone, then enjoy not paying for the gym.
Enjoy the free gym it’s not a big deal